I was able to get the higher-than-CD quality 24/96 WAVE download of the Nine Inch Nails the Slip, back in 2008 when they were offering it for free. I can import this in iTunes. But, you cannot put any of these higher resolution tracks on the iPod, when you sync it. This is because the iPod doesn't have the capability to handle such high resolution tracks. Anyways, are you sure when you put those hybrid CD's in iTunes, it is the CD layer that you are importing? When I import songs I use AAC lossless and songs CD songs usually take up around 25 to 30 Mb. I just want to make sure that I'll be able to get the hybrid CD onto my iPod without any hassles, before I purchase it.

Anyways, are you sure when you put those hybrid CD's in iTunes, it is the CD layer that you are importing?

Yes, my DVD drive in my PC won't play the SACD layer, so I must assume that it's the CD (Redbook) layer that it's accessing.

I did initially rip the disc into iTunes using a default import setting of 256 VBR. I've since replaced those files with Apple Lossless Audio (still .m4a files), and you're correct: a 4:30 song comes in at around 30MB.

A subsequently sync to of my iPod included these new files without incident.

FWIW, Windows Media Player is meant to be one of the few software players (AFAIK), that supports the HDCD coding, and when I played this disc in WMP11 (directly, not ripped), it displayed nothing to indicate that it was HDCD, nor did it sound any different than the same track being played in iTunes (lossless format).

IMO, "HDCD" is marketing hyperbole, in regards to audible differences. As has been said, it might be measurable, but it's not necessarily audible.

Thanks for all of the time you spent checking this for me! I have ordered my Hybrid SACD.

Also, I just went with a the CD over the HDCD of another album. I couldn't justify $30 for the HDCD over roughly $10 for the CD. Now, if the album were a Blu-Ray/CD/312 kbps download, all in one I might spend $30.

I saw a very similar ridiculous price, when I was looking to purchase a different SACD album last week. I run into these kinds of things quite often, because much of the music that I listen to is not mainstream. Also, many of the movies that I watch are away from mainstream, as well. So oftentimes I have to buy a certain movie because even Netflix doesn't carry it as a rental. Anyways, whenever you run into movies or albums that are out of print, the sellers, seem to go crazy and almost immediately the prices go from being close to the list price (or suggested retail price) up to 5 to 10 times that. I have watched a movie, for example, go out of print and watched the prices go up like this within a week or two.